Mayor Ed DeArmond with grandson, Preston. (Photo courtesy Ed DeArmond)GREENVILLE, KY (2/17/14) — As Greenville Mayor Ed DeArmond prepares to retire, he says he now has time to reminiscence about his career and plan his future.

DeArmond played baseball and basketball for Hughes-Kirk High School, served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam era, and served a distinguished stint with the Kentucky State Police, from 1972 to 2002, where he assisted as a SWAT team negotiator in several cases.

Now, after serving as mayor of Greenville from 2006 to present, DeArmond will soon end 40 years of public service Dec. 2014, much of his time spent in Muhlenberg County.

He said he's ready to enjoy those golden years other friends have often told him about.

"I have a daughter and a two-year-old grandchild. I want to spend more time with them," DeArmond said. "Due to the many duty assignments during my tenure with KSP, I missed a lot of quality time with my daughter. This time I want to have plenty of time for both."

DeArmond worked in Muhlenberg until 1980, was promoted to sergeant at the Madisonville KSP post, then was promoted again to KSP lieutenant before retiring in 2002.

"I started out working for KSP in Todd County. But then a trooper was killed in Christian County, so they transferred me there. Before long they had shipped me back home to Muhlenberg County," DeArmond said.

"For those four years before people started asking me to run for mayor of Greenville, the biggest decision I had to make was what time I got up," DeArmond said.

When asked what he's proudest moment was after taking the office of mayor, DeArmond said, without a doubt, "It was keeping a promise I made while running for office."

DeArmond said he promised during the campaign that, if elected, he would make sure there was a policeman in all of the school zones.

"And we did it. Within a couple of days of taking office, we went from what was total chaos … with buses, teachers and parents coming and going every which way. But the police did their job well, and officers still patrol school zones the way I planned it. For some reason, that is just something I feel really proud about," DeArmond said. "It was my first plan of action in office, and it worked."

So what does DeArmond plan to do now?

"I haven't had a vacation in five years. What do you think?" DeArmond said.